The STTR program, as established by law, is intended to stimulate a partnership of ideas and technologies between innovative small business concerns (SBCs) and non-profit research institutions through Federally-funded research or research and development (R/R&D). By providing awards to SBCs for cooperative R/R&D efforts with non-profit research institutions, the STTR program assists the small business and research communities by commercializing innovative technologies.

The STTR program is structured in three phases, the first two of which are supported using STTR funds. The objective of Phase I is to establish the technical/scientific merit and feasibility of the proposed R/R&D efforts. The objective of Phase II is to continue the research or R&D efforts initiated in Phase I. An objective of the STTR program is to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal R/R&D. The objective of Phase III, where appropriate, is for the SBC to pursue with non-STTR funds (either Federal or non-Federal) the commercialization objectives resulting from the results of the R/R&D funded in Phases I and II. In some Federal agencies, Phase III may involve follow-on, non-STTR funded R&D, or production contracts for products or processes intended for use by the U.S. Government.

The competition for STTR Phase I and Phase II awards satisfies the competition requirement of the Armed Services Procurement Act, the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, and the Competition in Contracting Act. Therefore, an agency that wishes to fund an STTR Phase III project is not required to conduct another competition in order to satisfy those statutory provisions. As a result, in conducting actions relative to a Phase III STTR award, it is sufficient to state for purposes of a Justification and Approval pursuant to FAR 6.302-5 that the project is a STTR Phase III award that is derived from, extends, or logically concludes efforts performed under prior STTR funding agreements and is authorized under 10 U.S.C. 2304(b)(2) or 41 U.S.C. 253(b)(2).

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), invites eligible United States small business concerns (SBCs) to submit Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track, and Phase IIB Competing Renewal grant applications.

The PHS 2014-2 SBIR/STTR Program Descriptions and Research Topics for NIH, represent scientific program areas that may be of interest to applicant SBCs in the development of projects that have potential for commercialization. Small business concerns that have the research capabilities and technological expertise to contribute to the R&D mission(s) of the NIH awarding components identified in this FOA are encouraged to submit STTR grant applications in these areas. STTR grant applications will also be accepted and considered in any area within the mission of the Components of Participating Organizations listed for this FOA. In addition to the general research areas described above some NIH awarding components have identified additional, specific STTR funding opportunities of potential interest to SBCs. See the NIH Special Announcements for Small Business Research Opportunities. Applicants are not required to identify a potential awarding component prior to submission of the application. Staff within the NIH’s Center for Scientific Review (CSR) office, the single receiving point for all NIH grant applications, will assign all applications to the most appropriate Institute/Center (IC) based on their mission and the science proposed.

Some of the NIH ICs offer the opportunity to submit Phase IIB Competing Renewal applications that will provide additional funding for Phase II STTR projects. These renewals are often offered for those projects that typically require regulatory approval for the product or service being developed. For those ICs that included these opportunities in the PHS 2014-2 SBIR/STTR Program Descriptions and Research Topics for NIH applications will be accepted through this Parent STTR FOA. All others must be submitted in response to the specific FOA released by the IC. See the NIH Special Announcements for Small Business Research Opportunities for a list of these unique STTR and SBIR funding opportunities.

Government-wide STTR policy is provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through its STTR Program Policy Directive. Federal agencies with extramural R&D budgets over $1 billion annually are required to administer STTR programs using a set-aside of 0.40% (FY2015) for awards to small companies that conduct research in a collaborative relationship with a non-profit research institution.

The SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-81) provides for new provisions for the STTR program, some of which are available in this FOA. NIH is implementing the provisions in the reauthorization and an information website is available.

This FOA can now accept a Phase II or Phase IIB STTR submission, where the previous award was an SBIR Phase I or II respectively. Please contact a program official to discuss this option.